Help with wood scales please
Hi All,
I am currently restoring / remaking 2 razors and NEED to use wood scales...
As an Aussie, we are unfortunately not well represented in Razors apart from a handful of great custom builders, so I have taken on 2 restoration / rebuild projects, using Platypus Wald-solingen razors. I know they're not Australian so to speak, but from what I have found via research, they were commissioned by an Australian company with the blades made in Germany.
I have tracked down some native Australian wood "Platypus eucalyptus/gum" in both cross cut and burl. I am fine with the restoration of the blades thanks to some great threads and advice, but am at a loss what to do with the scales.
I asked the knowledgeable OZ for a quote to make the scales and rebuild them, but he doesn't stabilise wood and doesn't recommend I use it as his recommendation is for a flexible material like bone/horn etc, which is understandable.
Id like to be able to use the razors, but will proceed even if they're not fit for use due to water/warping etc.
I am buying a vacuum canister so I can stabilise the wood, but would like advice / suggestions re:
a) Should I back the wood with flat sheet of metal or some other material shaped to the scales (thought it might not look as nice), and glue it to help with warping etc
b) I was thinking copper wedge... I notice that most wedges are wedge shaped... is that necessary as it bends the wood, or am I better off with parallel profile so the 2 pieces of wood are parallel with no bending
c) How thick should I sand the wood? I see that many scales are only a couple of mm thick. Id like to keep it looking sleek, but more importantly is to make sure the wood doesn't split, warp etc.
d) Should I grove a channel in the back of the wood and glue some thick stiffener such as brass rod etc?
e) Am I better off making one-piece scales? (I have additional wood to do so if needed)
FYI, Platypus gum is a very hard wood, and the x-cut is almost perfect in uniformity but the burl has a few tiny holes, which I can easily fill with a neutral looking compound.
I'd like to scales to have a nice polished finish as with the blade, but like the idea of a rustic copper wedge, with the edge of the wedge showing at the back of the scales (therefore a preference not to use a wedge-shaped wedge)
Would really appreciate any advice or suggestions,
Thanks, Andrew